title: Meningococcemia caused by serogroup W135. Association with hypogammaglobulinemia.
abstract: Meningococcemia caused by serogroup W135 occurred in four patients during a period of nine months. Three of the patients had hypogammaglobulinemia with normal hemolytic complement levels; the fourth had normal immunoglobulin levels one year after her illness. None of the patients had classic meningitis. One patient had pneumonia; one appeared to have encephalitis with mild meningismus; and two had sepsis without localizing signs or symptoms. Patients with hypogammaglobulinemia are predisposed to the development of meningococcemia, and the incidence of W135 carriage in the population is increasing.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000361:Agammaglobulinemia / Q000150:complications*; D002648:Child; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018805:Sepsis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins; D003165:Complement System Proteins